Weekend Round-up!

Happy June weekend, ladies!! I'm feeling the season all around, and love getting gifts of weekly seasonal fresh flowers (thanks love!!). Gladiolus like these would make for a lovely buffet table arrangement by adding height and color to the food layout, don't you think? I'm sure you are all in a recipe/tablescape buzz right about now, getting ready to ring in the summer holiday via dairy deliciousness! Thought I'd take a minute to link some of my favorite things around the web this week...

- The most adorable kids craft/play idea for Shavuot!

- I need to remember this more often...

- My latest article for the Algemeiner: Born this Way?

- New on the Market: modern House Numbers @ Heath.

- Simple + Charming + Convenient DIY for Father's Day gift.

- HOTmilk Maternity/Nursing Bras ridiculously reduced at Zulily!

Some holiday-relative posts you may have missed:

- Cultivate social conversation at the table via big buds/low florals.

- Idyllic Ice Cream Sandwiches.

Also, for those of you who asked for a white cream sauce recipe when I posted this pasta dish, the most important part of any cream sauce is a good Roux for the Béchamel (white cream sauce). I learned this technique within the first few months of marriage (while watching much-too-much Food Network!), and it has come in so incredibly handy so far, and I've used it countless times since then. Here's the best step-by-step directions! I personally use that starter recipe + a cup of grated parmesan cheese and some crushed garlic cloves. From there you can add to what you'd like it to be (mushroom cream sauce, white wine reduction, salmon, pink sauce, florentine etc.) Enjoy!!

Loose Leaf Lounging

I'm currently loving this Notebook Striped Pouf from Little Choux! I'm especially fond of the concept of it being used for a library/reading-writing corner, or as an ottoman at a homeword desk! How adorably charming??

Remember these super-cute cotton composition tees??

Surreal Ceramics

I totally have a thing for ceramics that are made in the image of iconic objects (like this coffee mug, and this white vase). Here are a few things I have wish-listed for the summer season in the kitchen: Dreaming of serving up some Shavuot ice creamery in these ceramic cones!

Stashing fresh Farmer's Market berries in these ceramic berry baskets.

Sharing a ceramic diner basket of sizzlin' french fries on movie-date-night-in.

Weekend Round-up!

This iLog totally made me smile. What do you know? Lag BaOmer meets 2011! (Humor aside, this wooden iPad charging dock would make for a fabulous Fathers Day gift, don't you think?)

Here are some other links from around the web that I have been meaning to share:

- A shocking and most fantabulous Target collaboration!!!

- Honest Pinocchio - most charming of classroom supplies.

- San Francisco audacity!

- Summer decorating tips from the pros via Anthropologie.

- Most awesome baby moccasins: gilded leather + neons stitching.

- H.D. Buttercup's "Almost-Giving-it-Away Sale"!

- Shout-out of thanks to those creative and childish minds at Classic-Play for the mention!! :)

Also, if you are in the greater Los Angeles area, my supermom of a sister-in-law's (Esther Schwartz) closest-to-homeschooling preschool, Gan Chai, is now open for 2011-2012 registration!! If you want the benefits of homeschooling + the social and developmental achievements of a preschool that will help instill independence and cultivate young jewish pride - visit Gan Chai online for more information. Freida is a die-hard fan! :)

Wishing you all a lovely weekend! Enjoy the food + fire festivities!!

Trends of the Feather

I don't know what exactly it is about the festival of Lag BaOmer, but somehow I've always associated this bon-fire, barbecue-ing, band-of-brothers holiday  with feathers. Perhaps it's the archery...? Anyways, feathers seem to be an item. The current "it" theme. Here's a few of my favorites: Royal Icing Cookies from Cookieboy

Feather-themed House-wares Roundup, via Apartment Therapy

Fantastic Vintage Arrows DIY

And while I generally prefer to keep this a politics-free-zone, (after today's infuriating speech; i don't really mind making a jab!) this cartoon said it all... the (lone) feather in Obama's hat.

Also, on Good Day LA this morning Jillian was rocking the most retro sweatshirt-y top displaying a cluster of graphic scrawled feathers - was so rad!! But you would have already known that, seen the picture, and see where she got it, if you'd follow FreidaFroo on Twitter and join the party!!